Move over Gem Palace, there’s a new gem in town. 28 Kothi is a fresh little guesthouse in the Pink City that marries Rajasthan’s old world hospitality with cool, boutique styling, and we are packing our bags as we type.
Built by French architect Georges Floret, it was originally set up by Gem Palace’s Munnu Kasliwal for his guests from all over the globe, but is now run by his son, Siddharth Kasliwal, in partnership with restaurateur Abhishek Honawar.
But it’s the design that really shines, and brighter than Gem Palace’s jewels (well, nearly). Guests can thank Lebanese-born, Jaipur-based designer Nur Kaoukji for Kothi’s clean, contemporary, and insanely elegant interiors. Choose from two suites, two doubles, and one single, all named after gemstones (but of course), all generously proportioned, soaked in natural light, and dotted around lush gardens and open courtyards that bring the outside in. The vibe is understated, but super-luxe, and it’s the cool detail that really sets this elevated bed and breakfast apart – think a handpainted mural wall in the library, or mattresses upholstered in Kaoukji’s own prints. Add in Ayurvedic massages, morning yoga sessions, farm-fresh meals and a rotating, seasonal menu, and suddenly there’s incentive to get to Rajasthan even in this silly heat.
